Cambridge International AS & A Level

CHEMISTRY 9701/31
Paper 3 Advanced Practical Skills 1 October/November 2023
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 40

Published

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.

Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2023 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.

This document consists of 9 printed pages.

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9701/31 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2023
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Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond
the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.

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GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.

Science-Specific Marking Principles

1 Examiners should consider the context and scientific use of any keywords when awarding marks. Although keywords may be present, marks
should not be awarded if the keywords are used incorrectly.

2 The examiner should not choose between contradictory statements given in the same question part, and credit should not be awarded for
any correct statement that is contradicted within the same question part. Wrong science that is irrelevant to the question should be ignored.

3 Although spellings do not have to be correct, spellings of syllabus terms must allow for clear and unambiguous separation from other
syllabus terms with which they may be confused (e.g. ethane / ethene, glucagon / glycogen, refraction / reflection).

4 The error carried forward (ecf) principle should be applied, where appropriate. If an incorrect answer is subsequently used in a scientifically
correct way, the candidate should be awarded these subsequent marking points. Further guidance will be included in the mark scheme
where necessary and any exceptions to this general principle will be noted.

5 ‘List rule’ guidance

For questions that require n responses (e.g. State two reasons …):

• The response should be read as continuous prose, even when numbered answer spaces are provided.
• Any response marked ignore in the mark scheme should not count towards n.
• Incorrect responses should not be awarded credit but will still count towards n.
• Read the entire response to check for any responses that contradict those that would otherwise be credited. Credit should not be
awarded for any responses that are contradicted within the rest of the response. Where two responses contradict one another, this
should be treated as a single incorrect response.
• Non-contradictory responses after the first n responses may be ignored even if they include incorrect science.

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6 Calculation specific guidance

Correct answers to calculations should be given full credit even if there is no working or incorrect working, unless the question states ‘show
your working’.

For questions in which the number of significant figures required is not stated, credit should be awarded for correct answers when rounded
by the examiner to the number of significant figures given in the mark scheme. This may not apply to measured values.

For answers given in standard form (e.g. a  10n) in which the convention of restricting the value of the coefficient (a) to a value between 1
and 10 is not followed, credit may still be awarded if the answer can be converted to the answer given in the mark scheme.

Unless a separate mark is given for a unit, a missing or incorrect unit will normally mean that the final calculation mark is not awarded.
Exceptions to this general principle will be noted in the mark scheme.

7 Guidance for chemical equations

Multiples / fractions of coefficients used in chemical equations are acceptable unless stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

State symbols given in an equation should be ignored unless asked for in the question or stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

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Question Answer Marks

1(a) I Appropriate headings and units for recorded data in the space provided. 3
(Mass of) container + FA 2
(Mass of) container (+ residual FA 2)
(Mass of) FA 2 (used)
(Volume of) carbon dioxide
Mass units: / g or in g or (g) or g by every reading
Volume units: / cm3 or in cm3 or (cm3) or cm3 by every reading

II Balance readings recorded to same number of dp (2 or 3)

and
volumes given as integers
and
correctly calculates:
mass of solid / FA2 used and volume of gas collected

III Volume of gas collected in range 100–200 cm3

1(b)(i) Correctly calculates 1

amount CO2 = volume of gas / 24000
and
amount of Na2CO3 is the same
Both answers correctly rounded to 2–4 sf

1(b)(ii) Correctly uses 1

Mr = mass of FA 2 / amount Na2CO3 from (i)
Answer to 2–4 sf

1(b)(iii) Correctly uses 2

M1: Mr of xH2O = Mr (from (ii)) – 106
M2: x = Mr of xH2O / 18
and
Final answer to 2–4 sf

1(c)(i) It is an improvement and carbon dioxide is less soluble (if water is hot) 1

1(c)(ii) Amount of carbon dioxide / sodium carbonate is more, (Mr is less) so x is smaller 1

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Question Answer Marks

1(d) I The following data must be shown

• two burette readings and titre for rough titration
• initial and final burette readings for two (or more) accurate titrations

II Titre values shown for accurate titrations and appropriate headings and units in the accurate titration table
• initial / start and (burette) reading / volume
• final / end and (burette) reading / volume
• titre or volume / FA 3 and used / added
unit: /cm3 or (cm3) or in cm3(for each heading) or cm3 unit given for each volume recorded

III All accurate burette readings are to nearest 0.05 cm3.

IV The final accurate titre recorded is within 0.10 cm3 of any other accurate titre.

Round burette readings to the nearest 0.05 cm3. Check and correct titre subtractions where necessary. Examiner selects
the best mean titre.
Apply hierarchy:
2 identical, titres within 0.05 cm3, titres within 0.10 cm3, etc.
Examiner subtracts (corrected) candidate’s titre from Supervisor’s titre, .

Award the accuracy (Q) marks as follows: 7

V, VI, VII
Award V if  ⩽ 0.50 cm3
Award VI if  ⩽ 0.30 cm3
Award VII if  ⩽ 0.20 cm3

1(e) Candidate calculates mean correctly to 2 dp 1

• Candidate must take the average of two (or more) titres that are within a total spread of not more than 0.20 cm3.
• Working/ explanation must be shown or ticks must be put next to the two (or more) accurate readings selected.
• The mean should be quoted to 2 dp and be rounded to the nearest 0.01 cm3.

1(f)(i) Answers to (ii) and (iii) given to 3–4 sf 1

1(f)(ii) Correctly calculates 1

Amount of HCl = 0.1  volume (e) / 1000

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Question Answer Marks

1(f)(iii) Correctly uses 1

Amount Na2CO3•xH2O = (ii) / 2
and
multiply by 40

1(f)(iv) Correctly uses 1

Mr = 14.30 / (iii)
Mr of xH2O = Mr – 106
x = Mr of xH2O / 18

1(g)(i) Correct expression 1

Uncertainty in a single reading =  0.001 or 0.0005
and
2  uncertainty given
 100
14.3

1(g)(ii) Correctly uses 1

(100 + final answer to (g)(i)) / 100  242.2

or

(14.3 + 2  (single) uncertainty) / answer f(iii)

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Question Answer Marks

FA 6 NaNO3 FA 7 NaNO2 FA 8 NH4Cl FA 9 KMnO4 FA 10 MnCl2 or MnSO4

2(a)(i) M1: Correct three ions listed in space provided 8

M2: Table to show FA6 / FA7 / FA8 and test reagents
M3: NaOH and heat listed as a reagent
M4: Only FA8 gives off a gas that turns (damp red) litmus blue
M5: Add Al to NaOH and heat
M6: FA6 gives off a gas that turns (damp red) litmus blue
M7: To a new sample add either (acidified) KMnO4 or named acid
M8: Only FA7 either turns KMnO4 colourless or gives off a brown gas with a named acid

Expected observations for reference:

reagent FA6 FA7 FA8

NaOH (aq) and heat No (visible) reaction / No (visible) reaction / gas test with (damp
No fizz No fizz red) litmus to blue

Then gas test with gas test with (damp Ignore

add Al (damp red) litmus to red) litmus to blue
blue

(Acidified) KMnO4 Purple remains / Purple to colourless Purple remains /

(heat with solution) No decolouration No decolouration
No (visible) reaction / No (visible) reaction
or

named acid No fizz Brown gas No fizz

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Question Answer Marks

2(a)(ii) FA 6 is NO3− FA 7 is NO2− FA 8 is NH4+ 1

2(b)(i) Test 1 3
6 * available. 2 * = 1 mark. Round down.
Observations
Black solid/residue *
Pops / jumps about (OWTTE) *
Glowing splint relights *
Product
Oxygen / manganese(IV) oxide / potassium manganate(VI) *

Test 2
(Dark) green * solution *

2(b)(ii) M1: Test 3 2

Purple to colourless / pale yellow / yellow-brown (solution)

M2: Test 4
Purple (to colourless) to brown (solution)

2(b)(iii) M1: Off -white ppt 2

M2: Ppt turns brown(er) (on standing)

and insoluble in excess (NaOH(aq))

2(b)(iv) Manganese / Mn 1

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